Stand device for musical instrument case

ABSTRACT

A stand device for a musical instrument case having a hinge type latching means for locking said device securely in an open or closed position, characterized by a tongue means in conjunction with a latch key.

United States Patent Thompson 1 Feb. 18, 1975 [54] STAND DEVICE FOR MUSICAL 1,471,766 10/1923 Wolfe 248/96 INSTRUMENT CASE 2,007,535 7/1935 Kapnek 243/455 2,768 668 10/1956 Santosuossom 248/96 UX 1 1 Inventor: Ira Thompson, 3 Bell 3.155.362 11/1964 McCall 248/359 No. 7, Bell, Calif. 90201 Filed: May 1974 Primary IixaminerWilliam H. Schultz [2| I APPL 474,892 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John Joseph Hall [52] [1.5. Cl. 248/359 |51 1 1111. C1 A47g 29/00 (57] ABSTRACT [58] held of Search A stand device for a musical instrument case having a 8/46 4551457 hinge type latching means for locking said device securely in an open or closed position, characterized by [56] UNITE D S EZfF ES SZiENTS a tongue means in conjunction with a latch key.

414,231 11/1889 Loring 248/359 X 2 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEU FEB] 8 SHEET 10F 2 STAND DEVICE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENT CASE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a new and different type of stand device for a musical instrument case which provides a hinge type latching means to securely lock said stand device in an open as well as in a-closed position.

2. Prior Art Applicant is unaware of elements and capabilities discussed in this invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention comprises a stand device for a musical instrument case which has the capability of being securely locked in an open position as well as in a closed position by virture of a unique latching means.

The latching means includes a tongue member which is hingedly secured at its inner end to a vertical support bar mounted on the bottom side of a musical instrument case. The tongue member is provided with a slot at its outer end and a securing opening in its middle portion. The slot of the tongue member receives the tip of a latch key retained in a securing block member mounted to a lower cross bar attached to the legs of the stand device. The latch key firmly locks the stand device in an open position when it is inserted into the slot of the tongue member.

In a closed position, the stand device is firmly locked by insertion of the latch key into a slot of a retaining flange mounted to the vertical support bar. Additional locking and securing means is provided by a securing block mounted on the lower portion of a vertical support bar attached to the bottom side of the case. The securing block receives both the opening of the lower cross bar and the opening of the tongue member when the stand device is in a closed position.

Increased stability of the stand device when locked in the open position is provided by the outwardly inclined support legs attached to the top hinge of the stand device. i

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a stand device for a musical instrument case which can be securely locked in an open position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a stand device for a musical instrument case which can be securely locked in a closed position.

A further object ofthis invention is to provide a stand device for a musical instrument case which can be easily and rapidly changed from a securely locked closed position to a securely locked open position and vice VCI'SH.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a stand device for a musical instrument case which has relatively few moving parts.

A yet further object of this invention is to provide a stand device for a musical instrument case which is relatively difficult to knock over in an open position.

These and other objects will be more readily understood by reference to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the invention in the locked closed position.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is view in section taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a portion of an embodirrient of the latching means of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention in the locked open position.

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of a portion of the latching means of an embodiment of the invention in the locked open position.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the latch key element of the invention.

With respect to the drawings, the stand device 10 has a top anchor bar 12 and a bottom anchor bar 14, each rigidly attached by bolts 16 or other suitable means to the bottom side 18 ofa case 20, such as that for a musical instrument. The anchor bars 12 and 14 secure vertical support bar 22 to case 20. Support bar 22 is bent slightly away from case 20 in an outward direction in its middle portion to accommodate spacer blocks 24 and pads 26.

The stand device 10 has a top hinge 28 with its inner leaf 29 secured by bolts 30 or other suitable means to support bar 22. The outer leaf 31 of top hinge 28 has a leg bar 32 secured to itby bolts 34 or other suitable means. The leg bar 32 in turn has secured to it by bolts 36 or other suitable means, a pair of long support legs 38 diverging outwardly from the leg bar 32 with both support legs 38 in the same plane as each other. Leg support bars 38 are secured to each other by upper crossbar 40 and by lower crossbar 42. The leg support bars 38 are equipped with covers 43 at their lower ends.

Upper crossbar 40 has a latch block 48 mounted on its central portion. Latch key 46 fits into latch block 48 and is retained therein by the upper and lower shoulders 50 oflatch block 48, thereby enclosing the bit portion 52 of latch key 46.

Lower hinge 54 of the stand device 10 is rigidly secured to support bar 22 by screws or other suitable means and has its outer end formed into a tongue 56 which fits into slot 44 of crossbar 40. The tip 58 of tongue 56 has a slot 60 which receives the lower end 62 of latch key 46. Tongue 56 also has 21 preferably diamond shaped slot 64 in its central portion. Slot 64 may by formed in other shapes as well.

Upper crossbar 40 is provided with a slot 66 cut in its inner side which receives retainer flange 68. Retainer flange 68 is rigidly secured to support bar 22 by screws or other suitable means and has a slot 69 which receives the lower end 62 of latch key 46.

Lower crossbar 42 is provided with a diamond shaped slot 70 which fits around diamond-shaped retaining block 72, which is rigidly secured by suitable means to a plate 74, which in turn is rigidly secured by suitable means to support bar 22. Other suitable shapes may be used for slot 70 and block 72.

The case 20 is also provided with short support legs 76 rigidly mounted by suitable means to the bottom anchor bar 12 and are inclined outwardly from the bottom bar 12 with the'legs 76 being located in the same plane as each other. The outer ends of legs 76 are provided with covers 43.

In operation, when it is desired to change the stand device 10 and case 20 from a closed or carrying position to a standing or open position, latch key 46 is pulled up and maintained in the pulled up position, thereby releasing upper crossbar 40, which in turn permits swinging top hinge 28 and long support legs 38 outwardly. The outward movement of legs 38 is continued sufflciently to permit lower hinge 54 to be swung out and the tip 58 of tongue 56 to be inserted into slot 44 of upper crossbar 40. Latch key 46 is then released and allowed to fall down into a locked open position of stand device when the lower end 62 of latch key 46 is inserted into slot 60 in the tip 58 of tongue 56. In this manner, the stand device 10 provides a securely locked standing or open position for case 20.

When it is desired to place the case in .a closed or carrying position with respect to the stand device 10, latch key 46 is pulled up and maintained in a pulled up position, tip 58 of tongue 56 is withdrawn from slot 60,

and tongue 56 is placed in a vertical position against the bottom side 18 of case 20 so that diamond-shaped slot 64 surrounds retaining block 72. Support legs 38 are swung back against the bottom side vl8 of case 20 and the diamond-shaped opening 70 of lower crossbar 42 retaining block 72.

Retainer flange 68 is then inserted into slot 44 of upper crossbar 40 and then latch key 46 is allowed to drop down so that its lower portion is inserted into slot 69 of retainer flange 68.

In this manner, the stand device 10 is securely locked in a closed or carrying position of the case 20.

Although I have described my invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is understood that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without daparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

l. A stand device for a musical instrument case comprising:

a support means rigidly mounted to said case and having a securing block mounted thereon;

a top hinge means secured to said support means by one leaf of said hinge means and having leg support means secured to the other leaf of said hinge. said leg support means being provided with an upper crossbar member and a lower crossbar member. said upper crossbar member having a latch block means and a slot and said lower crossbar member having an opening in its middle portion;

a bottom hinge means having a latching means for securing said stand device in an open position and in a closed position, said latching means including a tongue member having its inner end hingedly secured to said support means and its outer end formed with a slot therein and its middle portion having an opening therein formed to fit around said securing block of said support means;

a latch key means having its bit portion retained in said latch block means of said upper crossbar member and having said lower end formed to fit into said slot of said tongue member; and

flange retaining means mounted on said support means above said tongue member and having a slot formed in its upper portion to receive said tip of said lower end of said latch key when said stand device is in a closed position.

2. A stand device for a musical instrument case according to claim l in which said leg support means has leg members diverging outwardly from said top hinge 

1. A stand device for a musical instrument case comprising: a support means rigidly mounted to said case and having a securing block mounted thereon; a top hinge means secured to said support means by one leaf of said hinge means and having leg support means secured to the other leaf of said hinge, said leg support means being provided with an upper crossbar member and a lower crossbar member, said upper crossbar member having a latch block means and a slot and said lower crossbar member having an opening in its middle portion; a bottom hinge means having a latching means for securing said stand device in an open position and in a closed position, said latching means including a tongue member having its inner end hingedly secured to said support means and its outer end formed with a slot therein and its middle portion having an opening therein formed to fit around said securing block of said support means; a latch key means having its bit portion retained in said latch block means of said upper crossbar member and having said lower end formed to fit into said slot of said tongue member; and flange retaining means mounted on said support means above said tongue member and having a slot formed in its upper portion to receive said tip of said lower end of said latch key when said stand device is in a closed position.
 2. A stand device for a musical instrument case according to claim 1 in which said leg support means has leg members diverging outwardly from said top hinge means. 